ohhhhh  what does she need to say????? Great chapter!

This curse of Winky's is getting seriously dangerous.  I'm surprised nothing happened to Hermione when Winky brought them tea, but that might have given the game away.Would Winky have allowed Hermione to fall to her death if Severus hadn't been there to save her?  Probably nothing would have happened if Severus hadn't been there... would it?I'm very happy that Minerva insisted that Severus ask Hermione to come to his office so they could talk.  For once Hermione was able to tell Severus that she now understood what he had felt like when she saved his life, that she didn't like the feeling of being obligated to someone else.  And Minerva was able to reason with the young professor and make her see that Severus didn't have anything to do with what was happening to her.But the best part of all was that they all had a wonderful and spirited conversation about potions.  Was that Minerva's doing, I wonder?  The wily Headmistress knew that both Severus and Hermione would have enjoyed that!And I loved it!Beth

He's a bit sly, knowing what is causing the problem and not revealing it to her.  But then, he is a Slytherin! :)

Wonder what he's hoping she'll say? This is fun!

interesting...

Really, Severus is a bit slow on the uptake.  He knows Winky put a spell/curse on her so he should speak with the elf.

Oliver is a twit.  She should give him his marching orders! :)

I'm sorry, but your character's actions aren't making any sense.  Since when is a person penalized for being under a magical enchantment in the Potterverse? If that were standard practice, Hermione and all the other petrified students would have failed their classes third year and been held back.  And Snape already KNOWS that she was cursed by Winky--where does he get off blaming her?And why is she such a doormat about it? She has a medical professional (Poppy) who can vouch for the fact that she was not able to 'get up and work!'

I'm very much looking forward to the next chapters. I like your story and I'm very curious how they proceed.Greets from Berlin!

You'd have thought that she had learned not to come between a boy and his quidditch team.  I am glad Minerva is interfering... these two are so stubborn!  Poor Hermione, but I can't wait to see what the curse brings next.  This is a really fun read!

will Winky reveal more about the curse? Will he think to ask?

Hermione seems to be a mixture of arrogance, intelligence and insecurity. She stepped on Oliver's toes (even though he was out of control), she yells at the headmaster and resents that the other staff are willing to work harder for him. I wonder when they will figure out what the curse is doing?

Yip, it does seem like Hermione has a thing for quidditch players. Although she dates them, but it doesn't seem to last.

I wonder when Snape is going to realise the sleep was something to do with the curse, not a way for Hermione to avoid commitments. Can't wait to find out what happens next.

Minerva, the voice of reason...Hermione is being an ungrateful jerk.  What a paranoid chit.The bending over backwards was pretty hilarious.  No wonder Severus laughed.

He's going to have to figure it out soon, because this is ridiculous.  And I'm guessing that Oliver won't be wanting to see her anytime soon.

It really seems that Severus is determined to find fault with his new Potions mistress at every turn.  I would be just a upset as Hermione if my boss came into my work space and watched and took notes one period, and the skipped the next one, and showed up again during the following one.  I was proud of Hermione for standing up to him and telling him where to get off.  And I was especially happy that when Severus had to take over her classes when she was under an enchanted sleep spell, he found her classes were well behaved and well prepared.  I hope they return outstanding essays to him.

Sooner or later Severus will surely remember the spell Winky cast on Hermione as she slept.  Dirty quarters?  Dirty plates and forks?  Fingers stuck together?  Sleeping for a week?  Instead of berating her for slacking, perhaps he should be telling Winky that she can unbind herself from the "ancient elf-code" and undo the spell, or she can remain bound by the code and he will give her clothes.  Enough is enough.  But I doubt he will do that just yet, and maybe never, but before all is said and done I imagine he will become very tired of all this interference with his carefully planned schedules brought on by this spell.

I found it interesting that Hermione had been feeling the beginnings of a crush for Oliver, but by the end of the chapter she had begun having doubts about him.   And I think it's a good thing, too.  All Oliver is interested in is getting under her robes.  And Severus was delighted that she turned her head when Oliver tried to kiss her.  Yes, I think he is taking more notice of Miss Granger than he is willing to admit to.

Wonderful chapter!Beth

The way Severus found out about Minerva's death was a shock!  But at least he was able to talk to her and satisfy himself that she was happy to be back in her home of so many, many year, and Severus was grateful that he would still have his friend whom he loved to talk to when he needed to confide in someone he could trust.  Hermione's time in the hospital waiting room was predictably horrible, and I felt so sorry for her that she was alone when the Healer came to tell her that her friend was gone.  Her very dear friend was so quickly lost to her, and her grief was palpable.

The service that Severus and Hermione arranged for Minerva and Horace was beautiful and brought together many of the people they had known and loved all their lives.  Severus' eulogy was heart felt and he recounted all the wonderful things both of them had done to benefit the Wizarding world.  I found it ironic that during the funeral when Hermione were wishing with all her heart that Snape had been to one to die, he was noticing her obvious distress and was concerned enough to try to soothe her by patting her on the back — but only once.  As soon a she could she left, unable to face all the people in her emotional state.

I'm glad that Severus told Minerva how upset Hermione had been, and I'm so happy that Minerva made Severus owl Hermione to come see her.  It did both of them a world of good to be able to visit and debate and talk about old times.  The entire time she was visiting with her former Head of House, sitting on Severus' desk, he was thinking about her... bum... was it really accidental that his arm had brushed up against her bottom?  I don't think so, and Severus is having a difficult time convincing himself that it was.  Besides, she smelled of cherry blossoms.  Umm humm, he is beginning to notice things about Miss Granger that have nothing to do with being an irritating know-it-all.

In the aftermath of the war, Severus has had to replace professors with younger wizards.  First he hired Oliver Wood, then Adrian Pucey, Susan Bones, and now Hermione Granger.  I had to laugh at his thoughts when Hermione lost her cool during her job interview.  That sealed the deal as far as Severus was concerned.  She was qualified, she had the job, and he would be able to have the fun of driving her to distraction.  Win, win.  But the funniest thing was that he timed the delivery of her owl telling her she had the job and her first staff meeting to insure she would be late.  Gods, that man loves to torment her.

Thank you for another wonderful chapter!Beth

This fire at Minerva and Horace's cottage was absolutely the last thing I expected to read.  You've left me damned near speechless.  I can't think of a thing but Minerva.  Please let there be enough magic to heal her.This chapter really brought me up short.  Hermione lost her job, Severus isn't happy with the way Oliver Wood is working out, Horace is dead, and Minerva is near death.  I think the only mildly pleasant thing I remember is that during the wedding Severus remembered that "Granger had been pleasant-smelling, and it reminded him of the hospital."Talk about a change in direction!  You've pulled this one off in spades!  Even though it was unsettling in the extreme, it was very well written and packed a punch!Now I have to read the next chapter to find out about Minerva.Beth

I wonder if Hermione's extended sleep had anything to do with the curse?

I'm so happy for Minerva and Horace, and hope they enjoy wedded bliss for decades to come.  It just goes to prove that you're never too old to love.  (Wish someone would point that out to Severus)The wedding in the stone ruins and the heather was lovely, and I was excited when it seemed that the Best Man was enjoying his dance with the Maid of Honor, but that didn't last too long.  It was clear to me that he was enjoying sparring with her, but then he had to spoil his fun by recalling sparring with Lily.  surely he wants to get past these memories, but he just will not let himself.  Perhaps in time he will change his mind.  One can only hope.Hermione keeps telling herself that she only wants the approval from Snape that she has earned, but her reaction to him on the dance floor belied her feelings for him.  She wants him and his approval.  When will it dawn on her that if this rejection were coming from any other man, she wouldn't waste a minute on it., but this is Severus Snape – and he holds a special place in her heart.Hermione's time at Dupont Academy flew by and now she is up to her arse in reforming the conditions for house-elves.  She must be a talented saleswoman to have convinced Mr. Diggory, but I believe she'll have a harder time selling it to the elves themselves.  For all her ability to empathize with friends and acquaintances, she has never truly grasped the notion that the house-elves are, for the most part, doing what they want to do.  This should prove to be interesting.Great chapter, Mystery Author!  I'm off the next one!Beth

Another Wow!  You've kept Severus at his snarky best and Minerva at her most persuasive.  Severus is not grateful to Hermione for all she accomplished on his behalf, and her former head of house will not let her give up.I love the name of the American Potions Academy,  Dupont in the Shenandoah Valley!  It wouldn't be in Waynesboro, would it?So it looks like Severus is going back to Hogwarts as the Headmaster with Minerva on hand to help him, and Hermione is on her way to America.  Perhaps now that Severus will be back at his "home" he will begin to feel a little gratitude for all that his former know-it-all student did for him, and I'm sure Minerva will guide his thinking when she can.This is a great story, and I'm off to Chapter Three! Beth

You've written a great introductory chapter, and I'm looking forward to seeing where you take the story.I'm happy that at least Hermione and Minerva are concerned about Snape, and I'm pulling for Hermione to create just the anti-venom he needs to return him to health and an active life.  *Yay*I can see how the trio would not be so close as they had been when they were students together at Hogwarts and bound in the fight against Voldemort, but they are still friends.  It's a natural progression of life, and with Hermione's interest in learning, she would naturally want to return to class.And it's nice to know that some things never change.  LOL!  Slughorn is still his old self and interested in helping someone when it suits and will likely earn him points! I'm off to read Chapter Two!

Beth

I can't believe Snape didn't think to question Winky. Oh well, I wonder what the next thing will be.